10 civilians killed in Somalia clashes

Mogadishu, Sep 19 (Xinhua) At least 10 civilians were killed and 15 wounded Friday when they were hit in crossfire between militants and security forces at the airport in the Somali capital, officials said.The militants attacked the peacekeepers of the African Union who were waiting at the airport to receive supplies that were being delivered by an aircraft. Ten militants were killed in the ensuing gunfight, a spokesman for the union said.

The fighting started soon after the plane arrived at the airport. The militants fired mortar shells at the peacekeepers, Barigye Ba-Hoku said.

The civilians were killed when mortar shells of militants landed in nearby residential areas, he added.